The Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso may be one of the finest timepieces to start as a sort of sports watch. The unique design may have been inspired by a polo match, but the Reverso has made its place among the most iconic wrist watch designs in history. Keep reading to learn more about the history of the Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso.

The Reverso was envisioned after British officers in India complained to a watch importer that the glass cases of their watches often shattered during polo matches. The importer, Cesar de Trey, mentioned the problem to his supplied, Jacques-David LeCoultre, who then consulted Edmund Jaeger and Rene Alfred Chauvot. Together the three developed a watch case that would slide and swivel.

The watch was finally introduced in 1931 under LeCoultre, though not with a LeCoultre movement, and designed by Jaeger — this was before the two companies were one. In the beginning, LeCoultre didn’t supply the movement for the watch as the cases were produced before the right movement was developed. However, in 1933 LeCoultre started to manufacture Reversos with an in-house movement.

Jaeger-LeCoultre finally merged in 1937. The Reverso was widely praised as an elegant “sports watch” before sports watches became a utility. The classic, Art Deco design was also a great success for the watchmaker. However, the success waned after WWII as tastes shifted to round cases. Then, with the introduction of the quartz movement in the ’60s, the Reverso seemed a relic of the pre-war past.

In 1972, an Italian watch dealer, Giorgio Corvo, discovered a supply of empty Reverso cases, bought the entire lot (approximately 200 cases), and fitted them with mechanical movements. Corvo sold out of his supply and attempted to convince JLC to resurrect the line with mechanical movements. I9 1982, JLC did bring back the Reverso collection, but with quartz movements. Three years later, JLC introduced their first water-resistant Reverso.

While the original Reverso case was made of approximately 30 parts, the modern cases feature 50+ parts, making it one of the most complicated watch cases ever produced. The revitalization of the collection ultimately proved to be a success, with over 20 new models introduced since 1982.

Some of the most notable new models include the Duoface which features a face on both sides and a dual time zone complication. There’s even a three-faced model called the Reverso Grande Complication a Triptyque. Other models feature perpetual calendars, moon phases, self-winding movements and more.

Photo Credit: timezone.com / monochrome-watches.com / ablogtowatch.com